2016 Press Releases
UCC to launch Equality Week
UCC Students’ Union and UCC’s Equality Committee will host a series of events across campus every day next week (0ctober 17 – 21) for the University’s inaugural Equality Week.
Equality Week will offer the opportunity to learn what’s happening on the ground to promote equality and inclusion on campus, consider the challenges and opportunities, and contribute by sharing experiences and views.
Emily Logan, Chief Commissioner of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission, who will launch UCC Equality Week on Monday (October 17) stated: “This inaugural UCC Equality Week is a significant event in the life of the University, marking an opportunity for students and staff to openly discuss, on campus, key issues around gender equality, diversity, access to higher education and interculturalism. I would like to offer my sincere congratulations to the UCC Equality Week organisers for bringing together, for the first time, a packed programme of events and over twenty individual speakers.
Emily Logan, Chief Commissioner of @_IHREC will launch UCC Equality Week on Monday (Oct 17) @UCCLibrary (Creative Zone) at 11. All welcome! pic.twitter.com/9Vwoz0hrLl
— UCC Ireland (@UCC) October 14, 2016
“I am also delighted that UCC is leading the way in working alongside the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission on a ground breaking pilot project, to see how the Public Sector Duty to eliminate discrimination, promote equality and protect human rights for public bodies, which includes Higher Education Institutions, can be delivered. The results of this UCC pilot project can then be used by other Universities and Institutes of Technology across Ireland to embed human rights and equality considerations into their functions, policies and practices.”
The launch of GLEN Diversity Champions Workplace Diversity Programme will take place on Wednesday (October 19) at Room 225, Brookfield Health Sciences Complex, from 13:00-14:30. Diversity Champions is an initiative of GLEN, the Gay and Lesbian Equality Network, to promote the inclusion of LGBT employees.
“This is UCC’s first ever Equality Week, and the Students’ Union and the Equality Committee have planned an exciting range of events – there’s something for everyone. This is a chance to learn what’s happening on the ground to promote equality and inclusion on campus. It’s an opportunity for all of us to consider the challenges and opportunities, and to share experiences and views. We encourage you to participate, contribute and enjoy the week,” said Professor Siobhan Mullally, School of Law, UCC and Chair of UCC Equality Committee.
Other events will include UCCSU: Equality Activism Societies Fair on Monday (October 17) at 6pm in the SU Common Room and UCCSU Privilege Walk, set to take place at the Honan Plaza on Tuesday (October 18) at 3pm. The UCCSU Wheelchair Challenge with UCC Disability Awareness & Activism Society at the Honan Plaza on Wednesday (October 19) at 13:00.
Equality Week
October 17 – 21
Monday, October 17
Location: Boole Library, Creative Zone
11:00 - 12:00 EQUALITY WEEK - LAUNCH
Welcome: Prof. Siobhán Mullally, Chair Equality Committee, UCC (Vice-Chair, Athena Swan Committee, UCC)
Caroline Fennell, Senior Vice President Academic & Registrar (Chair, UCC Athena Swan Committee)
Keynote address: Emily Logan, Chief Commissioner, Irish Human Rights & Equality Commission
Kate Moriarty, Deputy President, UCC Student Union
Salim Mhawesh, The Irish Immigrant Support Centre NASC
Tuesday, October 18
Location: Brookfield Health Sciences Complex, Room 225
12:00 - 13:00 Action towards Gender Equality in UCC
'From Paper Actions to Effective Change for Gender Equality at UCC'
Nicola Maxwell & Dr. Sarah Field, GENOVATE
'UCC’s Athena SWAN Action Plan: what’s it about & how will it affect you?'
Ann King, Athena SWAN Project Officer, UCC
University Maternity Transition Supports and Guidelines
Helen O’Donoghue, HR Business Manager, UCC College of SEFS
Chair: Dr. Laurence Davis, Department of Government
13:00 – 14:00: What’s it like for trans* (including non-binary) staff and students in UCC? An introduction to the issues
• 'Trans* 101'
Gordon Grehan, Transgender Equality Network Ireland
• 'Your non-binary colleagues and friends who are non-binary (with a gender neither 100% male or female): what you need to know'
Kay Cairns, Founder, Non-Binary+ Ireland
Wednesday, October 19
Location: Brookfield Health Sciences Complex, Room 225
13:00 – 14:30 LAUNCH - GLEN Diversity Champions Workplace Diversity Programme
Diversity Champions is an initiative of GLEN, the Gay and Lesbian Equality Network, to promote the inclusion of LGBT employees.
Barry O’Brien, Director of Human Resources
Eimear O'Reilly, Diversity Champions Programme Officer, GLEN Diversity Champions
LGBT-related initiatives, activities and resources at UCC
Dr. Laurence Davis, Department of Government; Chairperson, UCC LGBT Staff Network
Niamh O'Reilly, UCCSU LGBT Rights Officer
Dave Roche, Manager, Cork Gay Project
Thursday, October 20
Location: Creative Zone, Boole Library
12:00-14:00 Supporting Traveller students accessing higher education
Olive Byrne, UCC Plus+ Programme Manager
Increasing Access of under-represented groups to Higher Education
Olive Byrne, UCC PLUS+ Programme Manager
Mary O’Grady, Head, UCC Disability Support Service
Gary Mulcahy, UCC Mature Students Office
Friday, October 21
Location: Creative Zone, Boole Library
13:00-14:00 Race, Religion and Ethnicity in Higher Education
Dr. Amanullah De Sondy, Senior Lecturer in Contemporary Islam, UCC Study of Religions Department
Dr. Olaniyi Kolawole, Department of Sociology, UCC
Dr. Karl Kitching, UCC School of Education
Professor Siobhan Mullally, School of Law, UCC